THIS year's Penarth Literary Festival is just around the corner with a packed programme of events coming to the town.

Organised by independent bookshop Griffin Books, the festival will take place from Saturday, June 18, to Sunday, June 26.

The events will be held all over Penarth including the Library, Penarth Pier Pavilion and All Saints Church, as well as on Zoom.

This year, the focus is on Welsh authors and stories with events such as literary fiction, poetry and psychogeography, children’s picture books, writing workshops and a quiz night on the schedule.

Writers will be giving talks at the festival, including novelist Tessa Hadley, poet and psychogeographer Peter Finch, and American author Pamela Petro who will be joining via Zoom to discuss her new memoir inspired by the Welsh concept of "hiraeth".

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Jon Gower will host an evening of Welsh language fiction and Katherine Stansfield will run a crime-writing workshop.

Penarth poet Stephen Payne will be the host of the Poetry Showcase.

Something many will look forward to is the literary quiz at Griffin Books, which owner Mel Griffin insists is "not as scary as it sounds."

As the festival is for all ages to enjoy, there are two events for children.

On June 18, Multi-award-winning writer Caryl Lewis will be chatting about her new middle-grade children’s book Seed.

Despite being technically after the festival, duo Lauren Ace and Jenny Løvlie will be leading a special storytime and activity session based on their bestselling books, The Girls and The Boys, on July 2.

For £30 you can become a Friend of Festival, which gives event-goers free access to sessions and discounts on festival book purchases among other perks.

This year the festival occurs at the same time as Independent Bookshop Week and Griffin Books say that buying a festival ticket helps to support local independent shops.

A full itinerary can be viewed here, where tickets can be purchased.

Tickets can also be bought at Griffin Books on 9A Windsor Road or over the phone by calling 029 2070 6455.